Brave Heart

Brave Hearts
Courageous hearts may beat alone,
Away from cheap attention,
Whilst others, scarcely worth their salt,
Have almost daily mention;
With medals just for kicking balls
On scandalous high wages,
Uncouth in most crowd-pulling sport,
Now filling tabloid pages!
From prison camps our brave returned
Forgotten, long forgotten,
Men of a discipline and pride,
With sicknesses begotten
When in world war's arena..not
Upon these fields of clover..
Yet satisfied with what they did,
And glad the fighting's over!
While others, maimed beyond repair,
Fought on their private battle,
Nursed by a loving hand, unsung,
Nor heard complaining prattle!

Again, those stricken in this slump,
Who saw their business broken,
What fat receivers reaped and reaped..
No consciences awoken..!
But out of ashes and despair
Worked back their cruel losses,
Ah! Many bitter memories
Through overburdened crosses!

Around us, everywhere, are those
Whose husbands leave them stranded
To manage, feed and clothe his brood
So bravely..single handed!
Well done indeed, undaunted love,
Whose efforts so untiring,
Has given our world some worthy sons
Deserving much admiring.

Courageous hearts along each street,
Arthritic, twisted figures,
Who manage so remarkably
Through its persistent rigours..
Glad just to make a cup of tea,
And smiling as you visit..
I take my hat off to these souls
Whose valour is exquisite!

And many more, Oh! Many more
Away from cheap attention,
Who scarcely make their coppers last,
Deploring codescension..
Whilst from trade boards..for little work..
Colossal sums are taken,
Aggressive, sly cupidity,
The moral code foresaken!

But brave is brave, this sort the spine
Of every splendid nation,
Who leave behind more precious gold
Than worthless adulation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------